Step-in or over-the-head harness: which one your dog will tolerate

EcoBark makes two shapes of small dog harness: one your dog steps into, and one that slips over the head. The sizing charts are different, the fastening is different, and which one goes on easier depends entirely on the dog standing in front of you.

How the step-in harness goes on

The Step In Dog Harness lays flat on the floor. Your dog steps into the two leg openings, then you lift the straps up the sides and close them over the back with a hook and loop strap. Nothing passes near the head or ears at any point. Sizes run XXXS for 2 to 3 pound dogs up through XL for 20 to 26 pounds, with a soft mesh body and a reflective strip on most colors.

How the over-the-head harness goes on

The over-the-head mesh harness works the other way. The head opening goes on first, then the belly strap comes up underneath the chest and closes with a buckle. Sizes run X-Small for 4 to 5 pound dogs up through XX-Large for 48 to 65 pounds, so it also covers dogs bigger than the step-in range tops out at.

Which one starts smaller

The Step In Dog Harness has the lower floor, with an XXXS size for dogs as small as 2 to 3 pounds. The over-the-head mesh harness starts at X-Small for 4 to 5 pound dogs, so a dog under 4 pounds only has one style to choose from on this chart.

Picking between them

If your dog stands still for a strap going on over the back, the step-in style is a two-step process: in, then buckle. If your dog is fine with something passing briefly by its ears, the over-the-head style is one motion: over, then buckle underneath. Either way, check the size chart against your dog's weight and chest measurement before you order, since the two harness styles use different scales for similar sounding sizes.

A combo option if you want one order

EcoBark also sells a Harness and Leash Combo, sized as XS, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large rather than by the weight charts above, in case you would rather order a harness and leash together instead of matching colors separately afterward.

Matching a collar and leash to either style

Both harness styles pair with the Comfort Grip Padded Leash, which comes in 4, 5, and 6 foot lengths, and the Bow Tie Collar, sized by neck measurement from 8 to 11 inches up through 16 to 24 inches. None of these three items share a size chart with each other, so measure the dog for each piece separately rather than assuming one number carries across harness, collar, and leash. Both harness styles also carry a D-ring stitched to the back panel for that leash clip, whether the harness itself closes with a hook and loop strap or a buckle.

What to check before you order

Confirm which harness style you are measuring for before comparing weight charts, since a dog that falls in the Small row on one style may land in Medium on the other.

In the Gear aisle

See the current lineup in small dog harnesses, and pair whichever style you pick with a Comfort Grip Padded Leash in a matching color. EcoBark ships harnesses and leashes directly to you through Shopify Collective, with their own tracking, separate from our treats, which ship from our kitchen in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

New gear gets tested faster with a reason to stand still for it. A freeze-dried beef liver treat held near the buckle works for that part.

Questions

Can I switch styles if the first one doesn't work?

Yes. The two styles use separate size charts, so measure your dog's weight and chest again before ordering the other style rather than assuming the same letter size carries over.

Do both styles fit the same size dogs?

Not exactly. The Step In Dog Harness tops out at XL for 20 to 26 pound dogs, while the over-the-head mesh harness goes up to XX-Large for 48 to 65 pound dogs, so it covers a wider range on the larger end.

What material are these harnesses made from?

Both styles use a soft mesh body with a hook and loop or buckle closure and a D-ring on the back for the leash, per the product listings.